Switch clip



Dec. 3, 1940. E. w. GOODAIRE SWITCH CLIP Original Filed Dec. '12, 1936 link n l I I ,1 lllll hlnl; Him all I I1 I I I I l I l 0 INVENTOR.

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$1M I if ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 3, 1940 more srrss PATENT OFFICE SWITCH CLIP Edwin W. Goodaire, Shaker Heights, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Cleveland Frog & Crossing 00., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a railway switch, and particularly to the switch clips which connect the movable switch points to the switch rods.

In railway switches such as split switches the movable switch points have connected thereto clips which, in turn, are connected to switch rods that extend beneath the rails and are connected to the switch throwing apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide clips for the movable switch points of a railway switch which are of such character and are so interconnected with the switch rods that the throwing of the switch is facilitated.

The present tendency in railway track installations is toward higher and heavier rails. This trend has a marked effect upon the efficiency and proper functioning of railway switches. The signal devices of railways are operatively associted with the switches and it is essential that 20 the movable switch points be held positively against the sides of the heads of the stock rails for this reason and also to insure the correct deflection of the flanges of the wheels of trains passing through the switches to prevent derail- 25 ments and accidents.

Heretofore, the movable switch points have been connected to the switch rods and, in turn, to the switch throwing apparatus by connections having relatively small and short vertical bear- 30 ing surfaces down near or below the base of the rails, with the result that thrust is applied relatively low to the switch points and causes the rails thereof to tilt or cant away from the stock rails and out of positive contact with the 35 heads of the stock rails.

A further object is to provide clips for the switch points of a railway switch which are so constructed as to apply thrust to the switch points relatively high, thereby eliminating the 40 tendency of the switch points to tilt or cant. and

get out of their proper vertical position, thus insuring positive contact between the switch points and the heads of the stock rails.

A still further object is to provide switch clips 45 for the movable points of a railway switch which are so constructed as to be particularly adapted for use upon the higher and heavier rails now being employed.

. Another object is to provide switch clips for 50 the movable points of a railway switch that are so constructed as to hold the switch points firmly and without looseness or play and wherein the relatively movable parts of the clips will not have a tendency to cramp or jam thus rendering it easier to throw the switch.

Another object is to provide switch clips for the movable points of a railway switch which are constructed in the form of one-piece units that cannot be tampered with, wear loose or come apart in service.

A further object is to provide switch clips for the movable points of a railway switch that are interchangeable and can be used as right or left hand clips as desired.

As is well known, switch rods, in addition to connecting the movable switch points together and, in turn, connecting them with the switch throwing apparatus, also function to hold the movable switch points down in place on the switch plates upon which they slide. I-Ieretofore, switch clips have been so constructed and connected to the switch rods that the latter had to be arranged with their widedimension horizontal, which arrangement rendered them relatively inefiective for holding the switch points L down upon the switch plates.

A further object of the present invention is to provide switch clips for the movable switch points of a railway switch that are so constructed and so connected to the switch rods that the latter can be arranged with their wide dimension vertical, thereby causing the switch rods to more effectively hold the switch points down upon the switch plates.

An additional object is to provide switch clips for the movable points of a railway switch which comprises two swiveled parts'so constructed and formed that the axis of the connection between the parts is in line with the center line of the switch rod.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore specified will become apparent hereinafter during the detailed description which is to follow of an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing illus trating said embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of one side of a railway split switch andshows a switch clip connected to the switch point with the latter in. open position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one side of the switch shown in Fig. 1 and is on a larger scale than Fig. 1 and shows the switch point in closed position with. respect to the stock rail.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view taken substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows with the switch rod shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the switch shown in Fig. 1 but on a larger scale, with the switch clips and switch rod shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a detached side elevational view of the switch clip.

Fig. 6 is a detached top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a detached side elevational view of a modified form of the member of the switch clip which is connected to the switch rod, and

Fig. 8 is a detached end elevational view of the member shown in Fig. '7.

The main or stock rails of a railway split switch are indicated in the drawing at 10, while the movable points of the switch are indicated at II. The construction of the switch per se is well understood in the art and it is believed unnecessary to describe the same in detail herein.

In railway switches of this character the switch points have clips connected thereto which, in turn, are connected with switch rods that extend beneath the rails and are connected to the switch throwing apparatus, wherefore the movable switch points can be thrown to bring one or the other into engagement with the inner side of its stock rail, as will be well understood.

The present invention relates to the switch clips that are connected to the switch points and to the switch rods.

The switch clips comprise a bracket I2 adapted to be secured to the inner side of the switch point and having a laterally extending arm I3 that is provided at its end with a cylindrical socket, as clearly shown in the drawing. The bracket I2 and arm l3 are preferably steel forgings and are made up of two complementary portions welded together along the line I4. By making the bracket I2 and the arm I3 with its socket of two complementary sections such sections can be positioned together before welding with the socket in the arm l3 surrounding a headed pin I5 formed integral with a substantially U-shaped member I6. By making the bracket and arm in sections and then positioning the sections upon the headed pin I5 and then welding the sections together along the line I4, the bracket and the member I6 are swivelly connected together and constitute thereafter a unit which cannot become disconnected or be tampered with as would be the case were the bracket and member pivotally secured together by the usual pivot bolt. The pin l5, as has been stated, is a headed pin, the head thereof being indicated at Ilia. It will also be observed that the base or lower end of the pin I5 is shaped, as indicated at H317, to engage the underside of the arm I3, and therefore the arm I3 and pin I5 are held against relative movement axially of the pin in both directions.

The U-shaped member I6 may be formed of any suitable material, such as malleable iron, and is provided interiorly along the bottom of the U with serrations or teeth I! for a purpose later to be explained. The member I6 is arranged in straddling position upon the switch rod I8 that extends beneath the rails with its widest side arranged vertically. The switch rod is provided with a series of serrations or teeth I9 adjacent each switch point, said serrations or teeth, however, that are adjacent one switch point being located on the opposite side of the switch rod from the serrations or teeth which are adjacent the other point. The member It, as previously stated and as shown in Fig. 3, straddles the switch rod and is clamped thereto by means of bolts 20 extending through elongated openings 2| in the member [6 and through openings formed in the switch rod and carrying suitable nuts and locking means indicated generally at 22, as will be well understood. The assembly l6 can be adjusted on the switch rod to provide for the proper throw of the switch, after which the nuts 22 can be screwed down and the member I6 clamped to the switch rod with the teeth or serrations ll interengaging with the teeth or serrations I9.

It will be understood that two or more pairs of the clip units are employed, with one unit of every pair for the right hand switch point and the other unit of every pair for the left hand switch point, and it will be noted that said units are interchangeable and can be used for either right or left hand as desired, it merely being necessary to arrange the member I 6 so as to embrace opposite sides of the switch rod It. In this connection the serrations or teeth I9 on the switch rod adjacent one of the switch points are located on the opposite side of the switch rod from the teeth or serrations that are adjacent the other switch point. It will be understood that the switch rods extend beneath the rails and beyond the same, where they are connected by suitable and well known means to the switch throwing apparatus or mechanism. Since the switch rod I8 is arranged with its widest dimension in a vertical plane the rod will have more rigidity and provide a much better hold down on the switch plates for the switch points than would be the case were the rod arranged with its widest dimension in the horizontal plane as is present practice.

As already stated, each clip comprises a unit formed of the bracket I2 and the member I6 permanently swivelly connected by means of the headed pin I5 on the member I6 and the socket in the arm I3 of the bracket. Hence the switch clips of the present invention possess the advantage that they cannot be tampered with or become disconnected during use.

In the ordinary construction of switch clips the thrust exerted against the switch points is applied relatively low, with the result that there is a tendency for the switch points to tilt or cant out of a true vertical position. Particularly is this true with the higher and heavier rails now being employed in track installations. There is thus created a danger of causing wrecks when trains pass over the switch and the further disadvantage that where signal contacts must be made by the complete and positive engagement of the switch point with the head of the stock rail there is likelihood that the signal will not be properly operated.

The construction of the switch clips of the present invention is such that the thrust is exerted against the switch points relatively high up toward the head of the stock rail, whereby the switch point will be held firmly against the head of the stock rail and will not have a tendency to rock or cant from its true vertical position. This advantage is obtained because of the relationship between the pin l5 and the socket in the arm l3 of the bracket, it being noted that the socket provides a long bearing for the pin, wherefore the switch point is held vertical at all times without looseness or play. Furthermore, the large diameter of the pin, together with the length thereof and the length of the socket, provides much greater wearing surfaces for preventing the occurrence of looseness in service. In addition the large bearing surface between the pin and the socket enables the switch to be thrown more easily, since there is no cramping or binding between i the socket and pin. It should also be noted that the pin [5 is so formed on the member N; that the vertical center line of the pin coincides with the vertical center line of the switch rod, wherefore the rod to which the unit is attached does not have to be adjustably swung between the ties at an angle thereto, as is necessary where the usual adjustable clips are employed, thus resulting in the advantage that the switch rods can be kept in their original positions and more room will be provided for other attachments incident to the switch installation.

The clips can be adjusted on the switch rods independently of each other and without disconnecting the switch from its throwing mechanism.

It will be understood that the adjustment of the switch clips is provided so that they may be so spaced and positioned that the switch points will be held firmly against the fixed rails. In addition, the construction of the clips is such that the switch rods I8 can be reversed end for end, depending upon which side of the switch the switch throwing apparatus or mechanism is located.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a modified form of the member of theclip unit that may be secured to the switch rod in place of the member l6 previously described.

There may be instances where no adjustability is desired between the switch clip unit and the switch rod and in such cases the member 23, illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 may be employed.

The member 23 may be formed of any suitable material, such as malleable iron, and is provided with a pair of spaced parallel downwardly extending legs 24 and 25, wherefore the member 23 can be arranged in straddling position upon the switch rod. The legs 24 and 25 are provided with a pair of aligned holes 26 with recesses 21 formed in the leg 24 for the reception of the heads of securing bolts (not shown).

It will be understood that the members 23 are secured to the switch rods by suitable bolts passing through the openings 26 and registering openings in the switch rods and having nuts and lock washers on their threaded ends.

The member 23 is provided with an integral vertically extending headed pin 28 corresponding to the headed pin IS on the member l6 and having a head 28a engaging the upper side of the arm l3 and a lower or base portion shaped, as indicated at 28b, to engage the underside of the arm, and therefore the arm [3 and pin 28 will be held against relative movement axially of the pin in both directions. The bracket l2 of the unit is permanently swivelly connected to the member 23 in the same manner as has been described for its connection to the member Hi. The pin is so located on the member 23 that when the member is secured to the switch rod the vertical axis of the pin will be in line with the vertical center line of the rod. It will also be noted that the member 23 is reversible for right or left hand installation.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a railway switch, switch clips and a switch rod, said switch clips each comprising a unit formed of a member adapted to be secured to a switch point and having an arm extending laterally therefrom and provided at its end and entirely outwardly of the edge of the base flange of the switch point with an elongated vertically extending bearing socket, a member shaped to embrace the switch rod and having an integral upwardly extending journal pin permanently journaled in said socket by elements integral with said pin and located above and below said socket, said journal pin and bearing socket forming a relatively long pivotal connection between said members and which connection when said unit is applied to a switch point extends well upwardly toward the top of the switch point and the head of the stock rail whereby the switch point will be held firmly vertical and will not have a tendency to rock or cant from its true vertical position, and means for securing said second named member to said switch rod.

2. In a railway switch, switch clips and a switch rod, said switch clips each comprising a unit formed of a member adapted to be secured to a switch point and having an arm extending laterally therefrom and provided at its end and entirely outwardly of the edge of the base flange of the switch point with an elongated vertically extending bearing socket, a member shaped to embrace the switch'rod and having an integral upwardly extending journal pin located in said socket, said journal pin being provided above and below said socket with integral portions limiting relative movement between said arm and said journal pin axially of the latter in both directions, said journal pin and bearing socket forming a relatively long pivotal connection between said members and extending when the unit is applied to a switch point well upwardly of the base flanges of the stock rail and switch point whereby the switch point will be held firmly against the head of the stock rail when the proper force is applied to the switch rod and will not have a tendency to rock or cant from its true vertical position, and said switch rod and said second named member having cooperating means for adjustably securing said second named member to said switch rod.

EDWIN W. GOODAIRE. 

